OK people,I know i should have blogged about this in June. The unfinished post is in my notebook

Well, the solar energy business is not just about environmentalism. The growth in this sector is/could be exponential. According to wired, the site i check regularly; solarbuzz made 6.5Billion in 2004 (that’s a B for billion in case you missed it) and predicts sales will nearly triple to 18.5 billion by 2010. Joanna Glasner sums it up really, the solar sector is already hot. Check the article for specific stocks that she includes.

I read a case study about Nth Power awhile ago, the company has a long history of environment friendly tech, that i am going to have to review, they are on the board of Evergreen solar.

If you would like to ‘invest your principle with your principles’ (*and possibly get a decent ROI on your investment) check out social invest.org has info and reports on several funds that cover the different renewable energy fields. The new alternatives fund is one such fund.

Other companies not included in the article that i can think of right now, are Black and Veatch consulting (they are hiring) Check hereand domini social investments.

Watch a short clip of solar tower of power (In canada) and i wish i could say that ‘this blog is 100% solar’ for now its not…in future perhaps.**soo not an expert so dont try to sue me if you lose hmmmkay?

happened to watch the original press conference on tv, C&L now has
a clip of the president’s strange jaw movement. I remember
thinking…he could be on anti-depressants.

Carole coleman (You may have already seen this – she felt like slapping GW.) if not, her story is on times online.
The emperor of the free world has no clothes. The weird thing is that
his handlers at the WH actually reffred to him as ‘the leader of the
free world’. In addition, it really brings to mind the influence of
propaganda in news reporting. Katrina response was staged, Mission
accomplished was staged. Strange for America. Very strange.

Bracing
for the upcoming winter, and the forecasted increase (70% ?!) in energy
costs for heating. Be it natural gas, electricity or oil, it seems like
this winter will be rough. NPR detailed a couple of steps you can take to cushion yourself.

Iam still getting the run around at the embassy, since monday is moi
day, i have to wait till tuesday, and as a pal of mine says…I will be
on them like white on rice. I am on hold with them so often, that i
would like to suggest they change their hold music to
ogopafunkijazzynisation.(You can get it here)

Concerns about the avian flu pandemic have me wondering whether to postpone an impending trip, for now it just remains that – a concern. Condolences, 1300 dead in asia due to the earthquake, Africans killed in the desert, while trying to cross into spanish enclave in morocco, hunger strikes at guantanamo, the tragedies never seem to end.

Well, perhaps honeysoul referenced a different type of swahili,
but i do not think “Dwele” means “God has brought me” in swa. Perhaps
it does mean that in a different language (a nigerian language perhaps?)

The pod on current tv by ruudelmendorp gives a visual of the massacre that we were shocked and saddened to read about. The blood stained sandal, the blood on the ground, the overturned desks, the mass grave…

For some background/reaction on what happened, see Mental Acrobatic’s post .

Song of the day: Footprints (When you cry) by TOKLink to WMP video (music remedy) or link to yahoo musicReview of ‘Unknown Language’ CD on stylus magazine.

‘Sara’ never called me back yesterday nor this morning.Called the embassy again at 11:00 EDT (figuring they have had their tea/caffeine whatever for the day)This
time, I entered ext 45 for ‘sara’. She did answer, she did not sound
like the same person from yesterday. Oh well it didnt matter anyway
because she transferred me to ext 6 for A__ . Left a message again.

Zero sum game from the embassy.It appears i might have to make a trip to DC

I had heard of bad experiences with the embassy but paid it no mind. Well, i have learnt a lesson!

Its
not all sturm und drang, found out that with some software from a
friend, and a new trans flash card, i can get my phone to play 25 songs
using itunes. Since reading that the new Ipod Nano just cracks for no reason, i am content for now…the first song to be uploaded? I am thinking something from eminem’s ‘Anger management’.

(pole abt the bad link, fixed now – and thanks for the kind comments about the embassy shenanigans

Yesterday, was told to call back and speak to A on ext 39. Left a message again. No call back. Today: 11:30am EDT No answer on ext 39. Pressed 0 for operator and asked to speak to a person since i had been leaving messages and had not heard back.

She transferred me to a gentleman who happened to be courteous When was it issued? If it was issued more than 10yrs ago, you need to replace it. In addition he indicates that they should have sent me a letter telling me what extra information i needed to have sent in. (I received no such letter in the past 2 months) He tells me that he will transfer me to ext 45 so i could speak with Sara (not her real name), who will let me know whether they have my passport. In order to replace it i would need

He then transfers me to ext 45.
Hello Sara?
“Yes??” – well Sara must have a rather deep voice because it seems to me like its a man.Oh well, as long as he/she can sort it out, i dont care what octave the voice is in. I proceed to give my name and specifics of my situation.
Sara:When did you send the passport in?
Me: July 19th. (I will admit that i did not have the post office routing number with me or the exact date that the embassy received the passport- They did receive it though. I had checked the usps website afew days after priority mailing the passport.
Sara: So we would have received it around July 20 something?
Me:Yes yes.
Sara: Give me your number and i will check on that and call you back.
Me: Sure, sure. May i have your name again?
sara: (hesitantly) “Sara”
Me: O.k well thank you and have a good day.

Tune in tomorrow to see if ‘sara’ calls me back about my passport and whether he/she will sound different this time.If he/she does not call me by 10:30EDT, You bet i will be calling again. This time, i will have the routing number from usps and the exact date my passport reached the embassy.

Moral of the day:
Rather obvious but if you’ve had your passport for 10yrs you wouldneed a new one, so fill out the paperwork for that instead of the renewal paperwork which is what i mistakenly did. (It still does not excuse the embassy for not calling back or sending me a letter)

-Calling the Kenyan Embassy passport renewal office is a waste of time, do not leave a voice message on ext6 – your call will not be returned.( I think i can categorically state that since my call was not returned in a span of 2 weeks) Press 0 for the operator and indicate that you would like to speak with someone if at all possible.

- Have the routing information of the registered package and check on www.USPS.com website for the precise date that the embassy received your passport. (for those in the US – If you are in a different country, please check if you can track the package online)

-Get the name of the person you are talking to and their title.

-Last but not least dont be shocked that Sara’s voice might have a tinge of baritone.